Going south for help
WHY A LOW DOLLAR ISN’T DETERRING ALBERTANS FROM SEEKING U.S. CARE
Having a medical problem or challenge is frightening.
Many would pay anything to get a quick resolution of a health scare.
While Canadians are proud of the country’s universal health-care system, their sentiment often changes when they find out how long they’ll have to wait for an MRI, a joint replacement or other surgery that can greatly affect their quality of life. This is why many patients are opting to take their medical problems to the United States, despite the cost and the diminished value of the Canadian dollar.
“(Even with the low Canadian dollar) we have not seen a noticeable change in Canadians seeking care at Benefis, says Kathy Hill, chief operating officer at Montana-based Benefis Medical Group.
“Some individuals in Canada may be on a wait list for two or more years for a procedure that is preventing them from returning to work or they are looking to get their quality of life back.”
Not worth the wait
Mary Strauss, RN and nurse supervisor with the Medical Tourism Department at Kalispell Regional Healthcare in Montana says orthopedic surgeries, including total knee and hip replacements, shoulder and knee repairs and carpal tunnel release are some of the most popular procedures Canadians go south to get. Other drivers to the U.S. include neurosurgery consultations, herniated disc removals and spinal nerve compressions, pediatric and adult GI-endoscopies, sinus surgeries and breast care/ biopsies, she adds.
Heidi Aylsworth, chief strategy officer at Swedish medical centre in Seattle, Wash., says the clinic takes a low-key approach when it comes to attracting patients from Alberta.
“We are very respectful of not being too invasive,” says Aylsworth. “We mostly rely on word of mouth of patients who have come to Swedish for care.”
Offering package bundles is another way U.S. medical clinics are enticing Canadians to pay for health care.
“We offer package pricing for services so that individuals are able to know the price up front for a procedure and do not have to worry about surprises,” says Hill.
“We also offer concierge and patient navigation for our Canadian patients. Our Care Navigator helps patients throughout the entire process of seeking care, from scheduling appointments to helping them secure hotel rooms.”
Post-operative care
But what happens when you return to Canada? How do these clinics handle post-operative care?
“We send all the reports and records to the patient along with their Canadian physician, physiotherapist and any care provider the patient requests,” says Strauss.
“The client can access their records online. If a patient has surgery at Kalispell Regional Healthcare, three followup visits within three months with the surgeon are included in our bundled costs.”
At Swedish, the doctors at the facility co-ordinate any post-operative care with the patient’s primary care physician prior to and following surgery.
“This is critical to good care,” says Aylsworth.
What to look for
While the promise of quick care might be appealing, there are factors to look for when choosing a U.S.-based health-care facility.
Besides searching for qualified and experienced physicians through websites that compare outcomes for different hospitals and physicians, Hill recommends considering ease of use.
“Look at the facility’s Care Navigation services to help you throughout the process of receiving care,” she says.
In addition, Strauss suggests knowing the price beforehand so there are no surprises in the bill afterwards.
Once all is said and done and patients receive the medical care they need, the price of health care is often worth the cost, says Strauss.